Pumping apparatus



PUMP ING APPARATUS Filed May l2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllll l oct,25, 1938.

R. G. DE LA MATER PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May l2, 1936 2. Shee-ts-Sheet2 Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED sTATEsU PATENT oFFICE l g PUMPTNGnryrnrtnfrfus Robert Griffin De La Mater, `I arkersburgv W. Va.

assignor to The Parkersburg Rig & Reel Com-- pany, Parkersburg, W. Va.,a. 'corporation of West Virginia.

ApplimmY May 1.2.v I1936, ,sei-iai No. 19,376

21 Claims.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus, and more particularly to apumping unit for use in connection with oils wells.

An important object of the invention is to pro- I n I.. vide a novelapparatus of the character referred servicing o an 15.1 hinge meansintermediate its ends to permit the hinging of the pumping end of thebeam with respect to the pivot supportof the beam to permit the pumpingend to be swung to a position sub"- stantially out of alinement with thepump rods. a0. A further 'object is to provide an apparatus o-f thecharacter referred to having means associ ated with the hinged walkingbeam for supporte ing the inner end of the beam when the outer end isswung to the inoperative position referred A further object is tolprovide a headache post having its upper end arranged slightly below thelower face of the walking beam when the latter is in its lower limit ofnormal travel, and wherein the headache post is adapted to support theinner end of the hinged beam referred to when the pumping end of thebeam is swung upwardly to inoperative position.

A further object is to provide a hinged walking 86- beam of thecharacter referred to wherein the hinged sections of the beam areadapted to be readily restored to their normal positions after thepumping end of the beam has been swung to its upper inoperativeposition.

A further object is to provide a two part Walking beam of the characterreferred to having simple means for securing the sections of the beam inoperative position and wherein the securing means in the normaloperation of the beam is not subject to destructive stresses or strainsof any kind.

A further object is to provide a walking beam of the character referredto in combination with counter-weighted driving means therefor, whereinthe counter-weight means employed is adapted to support the free end ofthe hinged beam inv its upper inoperative position without the use ofany separately operative holding means. Y 55; Other objects andadvantages of theinvention (61574-41) H Y v y will becomeapparent duringthe course of the following description. .Y

In the drawingsI have-shown one embodiment of the invention'. Inthisfshowi-ng i Figure 1 is a side elevation of a.v pumping unit. It'.embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of one end`of the apparatus. showing the walking beam and associated parts, Y Y

.Y Figure' is a similar View of the other end of W,

the apparatus, f Y f Figure 4 isa perspective vdew. of the walking beam,n

Figure 5 is a..` fragmentary vertical sectional view through the centrarport-.ion of the wal-king 1li beam, taken substantially on line 5'5.ofFigy ure 4, and, Figure 6 is a detail vertical sectional View throughthe walking beam taken on linev 6--6 of Figure 5. f Y

Referringk to the drawings, the numeral I designates aconcrete orsimilar foundation for the pumpingapparatus, and a pair of channelsectionV base rails II are bolted or otherwise secured to the foundationas at I2. The apparatus 25,

any suitable manner, as by means of a belt I4, to

a pulley I5. Suitable. speed reducing gearing (not shown) is arrangedwithin a housing I6 and this gearing transmits power from-the pulleyv Ito a crank shaft I'l. Y Y

Opposite ends of the crank shaft l1 are pro- 35x vided with cranks I8toone end of'each of which is connected a wrist pin i9. A substantiallyU- shaped pitman is adapted to be driven by the wrist pins i9 and thispitman includes depending arms anda cross head 2 I. Each crank arm I8 40is provided at the end opposite the wrist pin I9 with a plurality ofcounter-weights 22, the function of which is well known in connectionwith pumping units of this character. The various elementsk of theapparatus described including the 4&3.v

source of power and the transmission means between such source of powerand the lpitman, form` no part kof the present invention, except in thecombination to be referred kto later.

A Samsonpost indicated as a whole vby the numeral 2371s arrangedadjacent one end of the apparatus and comprises vertical parallel postmembers 24 each of which carries a bearing 25 l adjacent its upper endtoV receive the ends of a pivot shaft 26., Forwardly of the Samson posta headache post 21 is arranged, and this post also preferably includesparallel post members connected at their upper ends by an angle member28. An angular brace member 29 is provided for the Samson post, and aplurality of horizontal brace members 30 are arranged against andsecured to theouter faces of the members 24, 21 and 29, kas shown invFigure 1.` These various elements are preferably welded together toprovide' an integral assembly of parts.

The apparatus includes a novel type of walking beam indicated as a wholeby the numeralr3l. The walking beam is preferably of I-beam section, asindicated in Figures 2 and V3.an'd comprises a pair of sections 32 and33 arranged in end to end relation. The end to 'end relation of the beamsections is clearly shown in Figure 5, and it will be noted that aplate34 is welded against opposite edges of the flanges of the beam` section32. These plates extend above andv be` lowthe walking beam 'landsubstantially over-lap the joint therebetween. The ,innerlendof the beamsection 33 is. providedadjacent opposite sides thereof with.ears,35projecting upwardlyVv from theV upper base ofl suchgbeamsection. Arelatively heavy pivot shaft .36; projects through the ears 35and;throughthepplates 34,. A` pair of angles.31 Vand 38 are weldedagainstthe lower bases of the respective beam sections 32 and 33.

f These4 channelsare provided with depending bases 39 and 40 havingtheir adjacent facesnormallycontactngin the plane ofthe jointbetween thebeam sections 32 and 33, and are normally heldtogether Abya single bolt4|.

L It will become apparent that the beam sections.l 32` and 33 normallyoperateas aunitary walking.; beam, and the lower limit of movementy ofthe,`

bottom of the `beamduring the pumping operation `is indicated bythedot'and, dash line 42 inV :Figure 1.

It is noted that this linegisslightly abovethe upper face ofY the angle28 at the upper end of the headachepost 21, and during the servicing ofthe well the beam sections are adapted toassume the preferred positionsshown dotted lines vand designated by the numeral 43. If desired, thebeam may be swung upwardly as aunit to the dotted linepositionshownxinFigure 4 Aand `designated bythe numeral 4.4,.in'whichcase extraneous supporting means `for the beam, 'must be employed. V 1 yOne end of the walking beam is provided with abearing member 45carriedby the beam section;

32 and, receiving, the pivot shaft 26. It will be apparent that theparticular pivot` supporting. means forthe beam,Y is of no importance inconnectionr with the present invention,`since,any suitable means forthesame purpose may be employed. The cross member 2 I. of the pitmancarries suitable'bearing portions 46 to receive a pivot' shaft 4lextending through the bearings 48 mounted on the upper face of thewalking beam.

The working end of the beam.V is provided with the usual rod hanger 49,Vas shown. in Figure 1, and any suitable type of rodhanger and itsconnection with the Ywalking beam..may be employed.. ;v

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The prime mover I3'drives the crank shaft l1' to the pump rods. Itwillbe noted that'powerV is delivered to the walking beam at-'a pointadjacent the rod hanger instead of delivering the power to an extendedend of the walking beam on the opposite side of the pivot supportthereof from the rod hanger. This fact is of importance for severalreasons. So far as the present invention is concerned, it will be notedthat the driving arrangement referred to permits the use of a relativelylight walking beam. Due to the weight of the pump rodsand the Weighttransmitted to lthe free end of the walking beam during the pumpingaction, the Samson post is retained under tension at all times insteadof under ccnipresy sion as is true of conventional pump units.

Since an upward force is always exerted at thel pivoted end of thewalking beam, it will be apparentfthat during the operation of theapparatusjrega'rdless of the position of the parts,

aisubstantial force is exerted at the joint of the l walking beam totend to maintain the beam sections in operative position with respect toeach other. In other words, the top of the beam is maintainedundertension while a kcompression` force exists between the adjacent ends ofthe beam sections at the bottom thereofunder all normal workingconditions, and accordingly there.Y

cated by the dotand dash line 42, which lies slightly above the top ofthe headache post. Accordingly the walking beam is adapted to oscillateabout its pivot without interference from the headache post.Y When itisdesired to service the well, the wrist pins I9 will be turned to;theirlower positions to swing the walking beam to its lower limit ofmovement, whereupon the pump rods may be disconnected. Under ordinaryconditions, the Weight of the pump rods and theforce of the pumpingaction tend to move the free end of the walking beam downwardly thustending to cause the beam to pivot aboutl the axis of the pitman shaft41 and urge thepivoted end ofthe `beam upwardly. As stated, it is theseforces which tend to maintain the pivot point inA closed position.

After the pump rods have been disconnected,

there is no longer any forcepresent tending to hold the beam jointclosed, and the operator then may remove the bolt 4I whereupon the jointbetween the beam sections will open sufficientlyto lower the beamsection 32 into contact with the headache post 28 to be supportedthereby. The crank shaft I1 is then rotated through approximately a halfrevolution to move the wrist pins I9 upwardly and swing thecounter-weights l22` to their lowermostposition shown in dotted lines inFigure 1. With the beam section 32 supportedon a headache post, theturning of the crank shaft in the manner referred to swings the pitmanto its dotted line position Y and likewise swings the beam section 33 tothe inoperative position indicated by the numeral 43 in Figure 1.

Under such conditions the vfree end of the beamy obviously will be movedlaterally away from its normal path of movement to a sufcient extent topermit the well toI be readily serviced. In this connection it will benoted that no fastening' means is necessary for vholding the beamsection 33 in its inoperative Vposition since thecountermiI weights willbe at their lower position and serve by gravity alone to support thebeam section 33 in the position referred to. If desired, the walkin-gvbeam may be swung upwardly as a unit tothe dotted line position shown inFigure 4, in which case the derrick line will be employed for elevatingthe beam. This requires of course,Y that the wrist pin bearings at thelower ends of the pitman arms be disconnected from the wrist pins I9. Y

Assuming that the beam section 33 has been swung to the positionindicated by the numeral 43 and it is desired to restore the normaloperation of the apparatus after servicing has been completed, thecounter-weights 22 will again be swung to their upper positions and thewristY pins i9 to their lower positions, and this operation will-ieaveonly a slight gap between the ends oi the beam sections. 'I'he furtherstepsv for restoring the normal condition of the'bearn maybe carried outin several ways. For example, the pump rods may be again connected inthe usual manner, and the weight Vthus placed on the free end of thebeam will move the jointed portion of f the beam upwardly toclose thejointgwhereuponV the bolt il may be applied. As an alternative method ofclosing the joint between the beam sections, the derrick line may beattachedto the hinged portion of tthe beam to pull such portions"upwardly and thus close the joint to permit the insertion of the bolt.It will be apparent that the simplest method of closing the beam vjointis merely to insert the bolt 4l and tighten it, thus drawing the angles31 and 38 together. Upon the restoration of the beam sections to theirnormal condition and the hanging of the pump rods from the free end ofthe walking beam, the apparatus is again ready for operation. Inconnection with the removing and applying of the bolt 4I; it will benoted that the rail members 30 act as ladder members to permit anoperator to readily climb upwardly to a point in proximity to the beamjoint,`and at the same time the members 3i! act 'i swung laterally outof alinement with the wellto provide access thereto. It also will beapparent that the relationship of the driving and working elements ofthe beam are such as to permit the use of a relatively light beam and tonormally operate under all conditions to retain the joint in closedposition and prevent the transmission of any strain to the locking bolt4I. kThe position of the headache post is such as to facilitate thesupporting of the beam section 32 when the well is to be serviced, andthe headache post will support the entire beam under vall conditions inthe event of any breakage ofthe parts. The counter-weights 22 operate toperform their normal functions in the operation of the pumping unit, andat the same timethey provide means for holding the beam section in itsupper inoperative position without the necessity for providingextraneous supporting means for the free end of the beam. V

It is tobe understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and ar- 'rangement'of parts may beresorted'to without departing from the spirit Yof theinvention or-thescope of the subjoined claims. ff

I. A walking beam l'for pumping apparatus comprisinga pair of beamsections arranged in end to end relation, and a' horizontal hingeconnecting the adjacent' end portions -oi the beam to mount the beamsections for relative lswinging movement ina vertical plane, andcounterformed of ar pair of beam sections arranged in end to endcontactingrelation and forming a beam unit having pivoting, pumping anddriving connections so related as tomaintain the beam under compressionat one edge and under tenr sion atfthe opposite edge,v and a Yhinge`connect- Aing saidbeam sections' adjacent the tensioned edge ofthebeam, and counter-balance means tending to swing one of said beamsections-in the direction of the compression edge of the' beam unit,- v

4. A walking-beamf'or pumping apparatus formed of a pair ofbeam sectionsarranged in end to end contacting relation and forming a beam unithaving pivoting, pumping and driving connections'so related as tomaintain the beam undercompression at one edge and under tensionat theopposite edge,a hinge connecting said beam sections adjacent thetensioned edge of the beam, and means adjacent the lcompression edge ofthe beam for vsecuring Ythe adjacent end :portions ofthe beam sectionsYto each other, and Vcounterbalance means tending to `swing one of saidbeam sections in the direction'of the compression edge of the beam unit.

5. A pumping apparatus comprising a wallcing beam formed of a pair ofbeam sections arranged in end to end contacting relation,-a horizontalhingeconnecting the adjacent end portions of the beam sections adjacentthe topA of the beam tomount the beam sections for relative swinging`movement in a vertical plane,

means pivotally supporting the free end of one oiV said beam sections tosupport the beam for oscillating movement ina verticalplane, and astationary support arranged beneath the last named beam. sectionslightly below the lower limit of the path of oscillation thereof. Y Y

6. A pumping apparatus comprising `a walking beam formed of a pair ofbeam sections arranged in end to end contacting relation, a horizontalhinge `connecting the adjacent end portions of the beam sectionsyadjacent the top of the' beam tov mount the beam sections for relativeswinging movement ina'. vertical plane,

v meansV pivotally supporting the free end-of one ends iof the Ybeamsections ing connection at the fr ee end `o f the `other beam section,driving means connected to said last named beam sections inwardly of thefree end thereof, and a stationary support arranged beneath said iirstnamed beam section slightly below the lower. limit of ,its pathof..,oscillation.,y

8. A pumping apparatus comprising a walking beam formed of a pairl ofbeam sectionsarranged in end to end contacting relation, a horizontalhinge connecting the adjacent endportions of the beam sections `adjacentthe top of the beam to mount the beam sections for relative swingingmovement in a vertical plane, means pivotally supporting the free end ofone of said beam sections to support theV beam for oscillating ymovementin a vertical fplane, ya pumping connection at the free end of the otherbeam section, driving means connected to lsaid last named beam sectioninwardly of the Afree end thereof, a stationary support arranged beneathsaid lfirst named beam section slightly below the lower limit of itspath ofoscillation, and means adjacent the bottom of the beam forsecuring the adjacent ends of said beam sections to eachother. f

9. A pumping apparatus comprising a walking beam formed of a pair ofAsectionshaving adjacent ends connected for `relative swinging movementabout a horizontal axis whereby onebeam section is adapted to swingupwardly with respect to the other beam section", means for piv-V otallysupporting thebeam, a driving connection for the beamga pumpingconnection at the free end of the iirst named beam section; and meansfor supporting the first named beam section when it is swung upwardlywith respect to said other beam section.

10. A pumping apparatus comprising a walking beam formed of a pair ofsections having adjacent ends connected` for relative swinging movementabout a horizontalaxis whereby one beam section is adapted to swingupwardly with respect to the other beam section, means for pivotallysupporting the beam, aV driving connection for the beam, a pumpingconnection at the free end of the irst named beam section,.means forsupporting said other beam section independently of said rst named beamsection, and

' means for supporting the first named beam section when it is swungupwardly with respect to said other beam section. Y

11. A pumping apparatus comprising a walking beam formed of a pair ofsections having adjacent ends connected for relative swinging movementaboutvarhorizontal axis whereby one beam section is adapted to swingupwardly with respect to the otherbeam section, means for pivotallysupporting the beam,V a driving-.con nection for the beam, a pumpingconnection at the free end of the first named beam section, means forsupporting said other beam section independently of said first namedbeam section,V

a drive shaft, a crank carried by said drive shaft and operablethroughsaid driving connectionA for oscillating the beam, and acounter-weight fixed with respect to said shaft and arrangedsubstantially diametrically opposite said crank.

12. A pumping apparatus comprising beam sections arranged in end to endcontacting relation and forming a beam unit having pivoting, pumping anddriving connections so related as to maintain the beam'under compressionat one edge and under tension at the opposite edge, a. hinge connectingsaid beam sections adjacent the tensioned edge of the beam to mount thesections for relative swinging movement in a vertical plane,counter-weight means for supporting out of alinement with the other beamsection the beam section having said driving connection, and stationarymeans for supporting said other beam section.

13. A pumping apparatus comprising a pair of beam'sections arrangedinend to end contacting relation, means adjacent the free end of one beamsection for pivotally supporting the beam, a pumping connection at thefree end of the other beam section, a driving connection for the lastnamed beam section, 'a hinge connecting the adjacent ends Aof said beamsections adjacent the top of the beam to mount the last named beamsection for upward swinging movement with respect to the first namedbeamsection, stationary means for supporting said rst named beam sectionindependently of the other beam section, and counter-weight means forsupporting the second named beam section when it is swung upwardly withrespect to said rst named beam section.

14. A pumping apparatus comprising a pair of beam sections arranged inend to end contacting relation, means adjacent the free end of 'one beamsection for pivotally supporting the beam, a pumping connection at thefree end of the other beam section, a driving connection for the lastnamed beam section, a hinge connecting the adjacent ends of said beamsections adjacent the top of the beam to mount the last named beamsection for upward swinging movement with respect to the rst named beamsection, stationary means for supporting said first named beam sectionindependentlyv of the other beam section, and countereweight meansconnected to said driving connection for supporting the second namedbeam section when it isY swung upwardly with respect to said rst namedYbeam section.

15. A pumping apparatus comprising a pair of beam sections arranged inend to end contacting relation, means adjacent the free end of one beamsection for pivotally supporting the beam',y a pumping connection at thefree end of the other beam section, a driving connection for the lastnamed beam section, a hinge connecting the adjacent ends of said beamsection adjacent the bottom of the beam to mount the last named beamsectionV for upward swinging movement with respect to the rst named beamsection, stationary `means for supporting said rst named beam sectionindependently of the other beam section, a crank shaft operable throughsaid driving connectionfor oscillating the beam, and a counter-weightcarried by said crank shaft.

16. A pumping apparatus comprising a walking beam formed of a pair ofbeam sections arranged in end to end contacting relation, means adjacentthe freeY end of one beam section for pivotally 'supporting the beam, apumping connection at thefree end of the other beam section, a drivingconnectionfor the ,last named beam section, a hingeconnecting theadjacent ends of said beam sections adjacent the top of the beam, andcounterbalance means tending to lift said last named beam section.

17. A pumping apparatus comprising a Walking beam formed of a pair ofbeam sections arranged in end to end contacting relation, means adjacentthe free end of one beam section for pivotally supporting the beam, apumping connection at the free end of the other beam section, a drivingconnection for the last named beam section, a hinge connecting theadjacent ends of said beam sections adjacent the top of the beam, meansfor securing the bottom portions of the adjacent ends of the beamsections to each other, and counterbaiance means tending to lift saidlast named beam section.

18. A pumping apparatus comprising a walking beam formed of a pair ofbeam sections arranged in end to end contacting relation, means adjacentthe free end of one beam section for pivotally supporting the beam, apumping connection at the free end of the other beam section, a drivingconnection for the last named beam section, a hinge connecting theadjacent ends of said beam sections adjacent the top of the beam, andmeans for hunting downward movement of said rst named beam section.

19. A pumping apparatus comprising a Walking beam formed of a pair ofbeam sections arranged in end to end contacting relation, means adjacentthe free end of one beam section. for pivotally supporting the beam, apumping connection at the free end of the other beam section, a drivingconnection for the last named beam section, a hinge connecting theadjacent ends of said beam secv tions adjacent the top of the beam,means forsecuring the bottom portions of the adjacent ends of the beamsections to each other, and means for limiting downward movement of saidrst named beam section. l

20. A pumping apparatus comprising a walking beam formed of a pair ofbeam sections arranged in end to end contacting relation, means adjacentthe free end of one beam section for pivotally supporting the beam, apumping connection at the free end of the other beam section, a drivingconnection for the last named beam section, a hinge connecting theadjacent ends of said beam sections adjacent the top of the beam,V

securing the bottom portions ofthe adjacent ends of the beam section toeach other, counterbalance means tending to lift said last named beamsection, and means for limiting downward movement of said first namedbeam section.

ROBERT GRIFFIN DE LA MATER.

